Obama: 'I will not accept the status quo'
President delivers big on his make-or-break healthcare speech
*SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC OPTION, Pres. Barack Obama's gave a stirring speech last night to a joint gathering of the Senate and the House | Someday it may be considered as Obama's best of his political career. | For the speech and more about the Obama's plan, visit Whitehouse.gov or Click Here> | For NYtimes.com, Click Here> | For Politico.com, Click Here> | For Washingtonpost.com, Click Here> | For AP.org, Click Here> | For PBS.org, Click Here> | UPDATE: What moderate Americans are saying about rude n' radical Rep. Joe "You Lie" Wilson, R-SC, at Themoderatevoice.com or Click Here>

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE RALLY FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM
* Photo: LisaRing.com

Supporters of healthcare reform with the public option rallied in Asheville
Audience tells Rep. Shuler to vote for reform that helps all
*APPROXIMATELY 400 SUPPORTERS OF HEALTHCARE REFORM WITH A PUBLIC OPTION recently gathered in Pritchard Park to demonstrate their support of real change | One of the speakers was Cecil Bothwell, who is running for Asheville City Council this fall. Other well-known politicos who spoke included Asheville mayor Terry Bellamy and Buncombe County chairman David Gannt. | At any given time the gathered crowd was approximately 300 strong; however, many people came and went throughout the approximately 90-minute rally for a total attendance that approached 400. | Most noteworthy was the diversity of the crowd, ranging in all ages and socio-economic strata. | Also noteworthy was the array of handcrafted signs with personal messages that extorted the need for universal healthcare and for a public option. | The crowd's sentiment was in stark contrast to U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler's position, which opposes affordable healthcare for all Americans and champions the Republican stance of no public option. Shuler was elected as a Democrat. | The Sat., Aug. 29, 2009, rally was organized by WNCforChange in cooperation with MoveOn. | For more info about future events, visit WNCforchange.com or Click Here> | For local info about MoveOn, visit Grassrootscampaigns.com or Click Here>

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Shuler continues to oppose health care for everyone
Technical difficulties continue for Rep. Shuler's tele-town hall meetings about health care, problems lock out some constituents
*AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF CALL-IN CONSTITUENTS WERE LOCKED OUT when they tried to call in to participate in Rep. Heath Shuler's health care teleconference via internet or by telephone | DowntownAsheville.com inquired about the technical difficulties for the August 13 and yesterday's meeting as well; however, no one from Rep. Heath Shuler's office returned calls about the problem or would officially provide any details. | Furthermore, some WNC residents questioned Shuler's decision to avoid his constituents in face-to-face town meetings. For a Mountainx.com reader who wrote, "Come talk with us in person, Shuler," Click Here> | For Scrutinyhooligans.us commentary, Click Here> | For those who had difficult in attending the tele-town meeting, Click Here>

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Shuler update
*UPDATE: SHULER STILL SAYS 'NO' TO REFORM FOR EVERYONE AND JUSTIFIES HIS SO-CALLED TOWN MEETINGS. Although polls show that the majority of Americans want significant health care reform -- and despite Rep. Shuler elected as a Democrat when he ousted Republican Charles Taylor -- Shuler continues to oppose House bill H.R. 3200. For update by Mountainx.com that confirms that Shuler says he's for reform, but in the same breath says he opposes H.R. 3200, Click Here> | IN RELATED NEWS, ONLY FOUR OF 48 OPPOSITION CLAIMS AGAINST THE HOUSE'S HEALTHCARE REFORM BILL H.R. 3200 ARE TRUE, says FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. On Aug. 28, 2009, FactCheck.org released a comprehensive study that debunks opposition claims. For more info, Click Here>

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Why healthcare fundraiser for Palmyra?
RiverLink intern needs health insurance reform now
*"COME TO THE GREY EAGLE ON SEPT. 15, 2009, AT 6 P.M. to help change the tune on health care, listen to great bands, and support Palmyra!" writes French Broad riverkeeper Hartwell Carson | This past spring, 25-year-old Palmyra Romeo -- an Asheville-based AmeriCorps intern at RiverLink, avid outdoors woman, musician, and NC State honors graduate -- had a seizure, lost her ability to speak, became paralyzed on her right side, lost consciousness and was rushed to Mission Hospitals. She's slowly recovering from surgery, but not from the bills. Her AmeriCorps healthcare coverage is insufficient to cover the astronomical cost of hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and ongoing care. | For Palmyra's story, visit palmyrabenefit.org or Click Here> | For directions to the Sept. 15 benefit, visit Thegreyeagle.com or Click Here> | For health info at Missionhospitals.org, Click Here> | For more details about why Palmyra needs our community’s support and financial help, email jon.stickley@gmail.com

 

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Real 'Norma Rae' dies of cancer
After her insurer delayed treatment
*CRYSTAL LEE SUTTON (formerly Crystal Lee Jordan), the North Carolina union organizer who was the inspiration for the movie "Norma Rae," died on Fri., Sept. 11, 2009 | She died of brain cancer after a battle with her insurance company, which delayed her treatment, reported Facing South magazine. Crystal was 68. | For complete article, visit Southernstudies.org or Click Here>

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Moyers pushes Obama to fight for healthcare reform
'No more Mr. Nice Guy, Mr. President. We need a fighter.'
*5-MINUTE VIDEO ON BILL MOYERS JOURNAL that puts the debate of health care forum into perspective. | Visit "Uncivil Discourse" at truthout.com, or visit PBS.org/moyers, or Click Here>

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Ted Kennedy: "The dream shall never die" * kennedy.senate.gov

Goodbye, Teddy
Video of Sen. Edward Kennedy's plea of healthcare for all
*SEN. TED KENNEDY DIED, but his dream for universal health care lives on | A passionate explanation by Sen. Edward Kennedy speaking in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on April 3, 2008, about why universal health care insurance for all Americans is the right thing to do now. For four-minute video, Click Here> | Sen. Kennedy was buried Sat., Aug. 29, 2009. Visit Kennedy.senate.gov or Click Here> | ABCNews.com: Click Here> | AP.org: Click Here> | Boston.com: Click Here> | Factcheck.org: Click Here> | Newsobserver.com: Click Here> | NYtimes.com: Click Here> | Politico.com: Click Here> | Truthout.com: Click Here>| Washingtonpost.com: Click Here> | Wikipedia.com: Click Here>

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Shuler continues to oppose health care for everyone
Rep. Shuler's Aug. 13 tele-town hall meeting about health care locks out some constituents
*ON AUGUST 13, 2009. AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF CALL-IN CONSTITUENTS WERE LOCKED OUT when they tried to call in to participate in the health care 'virtual' hall meeting conducted by Rep. Heath Shuler. | DowntownAsheville.com inquired about the technical difficulties; however, no one from Rep. Heath Shuler's office returned calls about the problem or would officially provide any details. | Furthermore, some WNC residents questioned Shuler's decision to avoid his constituents in face-to-face town meetings. For a Mountainx.com reader who wrote, "Come talk with us in person, Shuler," Click Here> | For Scrutinyhooligans.us commentary, Click Here> | For those who had difficult in attending the tele-town meeting, Click Here> | UPDATE: SHULER STILL SAYS 'NO' TO REFORM FOR EVERYONE AND JUSTIFIES HIS SO-CALLED TOWN MEETINGS. Although polls show that the majority of Americans want real health care reform and despite Rep. Shuler elected as a Democrat when he ousted Republican Charles Taylor, Shuler continues to oppose House bill H.R. 3200. For update by Mountainx.com that confirms that Shuler says he's for reform, but in the same breath says he opposes H.R. 3200, Click Here>

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FactCheck.org exposes massive lies, misinformation by healthcare opposition
Highly regarded, non-partisan, fact-checking group sets record straight about H.R. bill 3200
*ONLY FOUR OF 48 OPPOSITION CLAIMS AGAINST THE HOUSE'S HEALTHCARE REFORM BILL H.R. 3200 ARE TRUE, says FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania | On Aug. 28, 2009, FactCheck.org released a comprehensive study that debunks a major effort by healthcare opponents who have resorted to lies and half-truths in their attempt to derail meaningful healthcare reform. | States FactCheck.org: "A notorious analysis of the House health care bill contains 48 claims. Twenty-six of them are false and the rest mostly misleading. Only four are true." | To ferret out the fact and fiction -- and to combat the outright lies -- visit Factcheck.org or Click Here>

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DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE RALLY FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM
* Photo: Lisaring.com

Supporters of healthcare reform with the public option rallied in Asheville
Audience tells Rep. Shuler to vote for reform that helps all
*THIS PAST WEEKEND, THOSE SUPPORTING REAL HEALTHCARE REFORM WITH A PUBLIC OPTION gathered in Pritchard Park to demonstrate their support | One of the speakers was Cecil Bothwell, who is running for Asheville City Council this fall.

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Why fight for the public option
*TRUTHOUT.COM PERSPECTIVE argues why the public option is needed | Writer Marc Ash says, "What we need is not 'change'; we need tradition. An American tradition of fortitude and caring." He explains why now is the time to fight for health care reform with the public option. | Click Here>

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Bill Moyers' Journal exposes health care misinformation
Ex-official of health insurance industry tells all
*BILL MOYERS REVEALS HOW INSURANCE INDUSTRY TRIED TO DERAIL MICHAEL MOORE'S MOVIE'SICKO' from ever being released | The nationally aired program focuses on what the insurance industry is not telling the public, and how it tried to discredit Michael Moore. For a transcript of Moyers' show that aired July 10, 2009, visit pbs.org or Click Here> | For YouTube video of Moyers' interview with former CIGNA executive Wendell Potter who reveals the dirty secrets of the health care industry: PART ONE, Click Here> | PART TWO, Click Here>

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Ted Kennedy speaks out on universal health care reform
*A MOST THOUGHTFUL, PERSONAL, POWERFUL PERSPECTIVE BY THE LATE-SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY, as published in Newsweek Magazine | For Kennedy's commentary, entitled "The cause of my life: Inside the fight for universal health care," visit Newsweek.com or Click Here>